Erling Haaland scored twice but Manchester City are halfway out of the UEFA Champions League after letting not one, but two leads slip away before losing to Real Madrid in stoppage, at home, on Tuesday.
MORE - Pep Guardiola’s reaction to Real Madrid loss
Real Madrid started the game with 10 or 15 minutes of control before Haaland put Man City ahead out of nowhere and against the run of the play. It was all City for a bit after the goal, but Madrid recovered to finish the half strong and pick up where they left off after the break. Eventually, Kylian Mbappe equalized right on the hour mark but Haaland once again put City ahead from the penalty spot with 10 minutes left.
The lead never looked safe, though — just like the first one, just like all season with City, especially in the Champions League — and it wasn’t. Former Man City youngster Brahim Diaz slammed home Vinicius’s rebound in the 87th minute to put Real Madrid in confident control of the tie and Jude Bellingham completed the comeback in stoppage time.
MORE - Champions League schedule & group stage results
That’s where things stand heading back to the Santiago Bernabeu next Wednesday (3 pm ET) for the second leg.
Player ratings - Manchester City vs Real Madrid
What’s next?
- Manchester City vs Newcastle - Saturday, 10 am ET
- Osasuna vs Real Madrid - Saturday, 10:15 am ET
- Real Madrid vs Manchester City - Wednesday, Feb. 19, 3 pm ET
Manchester City vs Real Madrid live updates - by Andy Edwards
Manchester City vs Real Madrid final score: 2-3
Goalscorers: Erling Haaland (19', 80' - PK), Kylian Mbappe (60'), Brahim Diaz (86'), Jude Bellingham (90'+2)
GOAL! Man City 2-3 Real Madrid: Bellingham steals it late in stoppage time (90'+2)
VINI JR SETS UP JUDE BELLINGHAM IN 92' TO MAKE IT 3-2 🤯
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 11, 2025
City were 2-1 up in the 86th minute 😳 pic.twitter.com/eSifuLSSvX
GOAL! Man City 2-2 Real Madrid: Diaz slams home the rebound off Ederson’s chest (86')
Former Manchester City academy player Brahim Díaz scores against them for Real Madrid in the 86th minute 😰 pic.twitter.com/T3M1CNxSNW
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 11, 2025
GOAL! Man City 2-1 Real Madrid: Haaland restores the lead from the penalty spot (80')
49 goals in 48 #UCL games, Erling Haaland is on another level 🤯 pic.twitter.com/4DhQxFw3k1
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 11, 2025
PENALTY! Foden clattered into right on edge of penalty area (77')
VAR is going to have a look at this one, as Foden appeared to be straddling the line when he was fouled.
Penalty given.
GOAL! Man City 1-1 Real Madrid: Mbappe shins home the equalizer (60')
MBAPPÉ WITH AN INCREDIBLE DUMMY VOLLEY 😂
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 11, 2025
This game 🍿 pic.twitter.com/5zK8KZFlmF
ANOTHER SUB! Akanji off at halftime, Lewis on to replace him
Manuel Akanji went down and appeared to be favoring his groin late in the first half, but captain Kevin De Bruyne urged the Swiss international to finish the half so City didn’t have to use another sub window in the first half.
Jack Grealish, apparently ill on the field, subbed off (30')
Grealish made a massive contribution to the cause for City with the pass to unlock Madrid’s defense, but he is hunched over and appears to have been sick on the field. Phil Foden is coming on with an hour left to play.
GOAL! Man City 1-0 Real Madrid: Gvardiol chests it down for Haaland to score (19')
Erling Haaland gets his first goal against Real Madrid in style 💫 pic.twitter.com/wJWOUouJAz
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 11, 2025
Jack Grealish played a brilliant chipped ball inches over the heads of every Madrid defender and found Josko Gvardiol making a galavanting run into the box, with Haaland right alongside. Gvardiol chested it down for Haaland, who lifted it past Thibaut Courtois. The ensuing VAR check took more than 3 minutes to complete, but eventually the goal was confirmed.
SAVE! Ederson denies Mbappe after a brilliant pass from Vinicius (11')
It was nearly 1-0 to the visitors after Vinicius played an outside-of-the-foot ball around Man City’s defense and found Kylian Mbappe in acres of space on the back side. Mbappe’s touch was fantastic to set up the shot, but Ederson did very well to not only get his body in the way but hold the ball as well.
Man City starting lineup
Ederson - Ake, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol - Silva, Stones, De Bruyne - Savinho, Grealish, Haaland
Real Madrid starting lineup
Courtois - Valverdie, Asencio, Tchouameni, Mendy - Camavinga, Ceballos, Bellinham - Rodrygo, Vinicius, Mbappe
How to watch Manchester City vs Real Madrid live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Tuesday (February 11)
Venue: Etihad Stadium — Manchester
TV Channel/Streaming: Paramount+
Pep Guardiola’s City won their last League Phase game against Club Brugge to reach the knockout round as they’ve overcome huge injury problems and a massive loss of form to have the chance to continue their Champions League journey. Aside from their 5-1 defeat Arsenal 10 days ago, City have improved in recent weeks. But coming up against Real Madrid’s incredible attacking talents will push them to their limits.
Real Madrid are still top of La Liga but have also suffered serious injury issues, especially in defense. Carlo Ancelotti’s side continue to grind away with Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo making the difference in attack. But with most of their incredible defense missing through injury, Real are vulnerable and like City they have shown that throughout this Champions League campaign. That all adds up to what promises to be an epic knockout round tie over the two legs.
Manchester City team news, focus
New signing Nico Gonzalez had to come off in his debut in the FA Cup at Leyton Orient on Saturday and is a doubt, which is a big blow as he was the Rodri replacement, for now. But Gonzalez was seen training ahead of this game, so he could be fit to start, with a host of other players also in training as goalkeeper Ederson is also in a race to be fit and the duo of Ake and Doku were seen training too. We can expect De Bruyne, Haaland and Foden to all start, while Guardiola will likely go with Kovacic and Gonzalez in midfield if the latter is fit. Who he lines up against Vinicius will be intriguing and Manuel Akanji could get the nod at right back with Stones and Dias at center back.
OUT: Rodri (torn ACL - MORE) | QUESTIONABLE: Ederson (fitness), Nathan Ake (muscle), Jeremy Doku (knock), Nico Gonzalez (knock)
Real Madrid team news, focus
It’s clear to see Real have massive injury issues with both right backs out, plus their three main center backs also missing. Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni has been playing at center back with youngster Raul Asencio alongside him. They have a tough task to keep Haaland quiet. In midfield Luka Modric could come in to start with Valverde moving to right back. Endrick, Brahim Diaz, Arda Guler and Eduardo Camavinga are all excellent options off the bench, so Real still have plenty of quality despite their injuries.
OUT: Daniel Carvajal (ACL), Eder Militao (ACL), Antonio Rudiger (muscle), David Alaba (adductor), Lucas Vazquez (hamstring)
Manchester City vs Real Madrid prediction
This feels like City will make the most of Real’s defensive issues and they have to in order to take a lead to the Bernabeu for the second leg. Haaland and De Bruyne will stand tall but Real’s star attackers will also show up. Manchester City 3-2 Real Madrid.
